AIM: Nosocomial infections are of great concern in hospital settings, and even more so in the paediatric ward. Health professionals and their medical equipment have long been known to act as vectors of infectious diseases. This study aimed at evaluating the presence of bacterial pathogens on the stethoscopes of medical personnel in the paediatric division. METHODS: Forty-three stethoscopes belonging to senior physicians, residents, interns and medical students at the paediatric ward were sampled. Bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing were carried out. RESULTS: All but six bacterial cultures were positive (85.7%). Staphylococcal species were the most common contaminants (47.5%). One case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was encountered. Gram-negative organisms were isolated in nine different samples (21%) including one case of Acinetobacter baumannii in the neonatal intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Most stethoscopes harbour potential pathogens. The isolation of Gram-negative organisms pose a real risk of spreading potentially serious infections, especially in the setting of intensive care departments. Apparently, the current recommendations of regular disinfection of stethoscopes are not carried out by health personnel that participated in the study.
AIM: Nosocomial infections are of great concern in hospital settings, and even more so in the paediatric ward. Health professionals and their medical equipment have long been known to act as vectors of infectious diseases. This study aimed at evaluating the presence of bacterial pathogens on the stethoscopes of medical personnel in the paediatric division. METHODS: Forty-three stethoscopes belonging to senior physicians, residents, interns and medical students at the paediatric ward were sampled. Bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivity testing were carried out. RESULTS: All but six bacterial cultures were positive (85.7%). Staphylococcal species were the most common contaminants (47.5%). One case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was encountered. Gram-negative organisms were isolated in nine different samples (21%) including one case of Acinetobacter baumannii in the neonatal intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Most stethoscopes harbour potential pathogens. The isolation of Gram-negative organisms pose a real risk of spreading potentially serious infections, especially in the setting of intensive care departments. Apparently, the current recommendations of regular disinfection of stethoscopes are not carried out by health personnel that participated in the study.
Authors: Fahad Alfarawi; Khalid Alshamardl; Muhammad Almutairi; Alwaleed Alyamani; Saif Aldhali; Faisal Alassaf; Abdulmajeed Alfadhel; Msab Aldakheel; Ali Almuhesseny; Sameera Aljohani; Ebrahim Mahmoud; Adel Alothman Journal: J Family Med Prim Care Date: 2019-05
Authors: Hossam S Alslaim; Jonathan Chan; Fozia Saleem-Rasheed; Yousef Ibrahim; Patrick Karabon; Nathan Novotny Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2022-04-01
Authors: Gabriele Messina; Emma Ceriale; Daniele Lenzi; Sandra Burgassi; Elena Azzolini; Pietro Manzi Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2013-10-30 Impact factor: 3.411